Apparatus for reducing the width of metallic slabs

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are two embodiments of apparatuses for performing work on metallic slabs to substantially reduce their width. In the first embodiment there is provided a pair of driven slab reducing rolls, each rotatably supported in a housing. The rolls are adjustably positioned relative to each other to reduce the slabs to a desired width. Concentrically carried on each roll are a pair of spaced anvil collars, one of which is adjustably positionable relative to the other to accommodate slabs of different thicknesses. In the second embodiment there is provided a pair of adjustably positionable slab squeezer heads, one of which is reciprocated relative to the other. Pairs of platens adjustably support and locate the slab in a direction normal to the movement of the reciprocating squeezer head.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Morris Denor Stone;

Howard Hubbell Talbot, Pittsburgh, Pa. [21] Appl. No. 817,133 [22] FiledApr. 17, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [73] Assignee UnitedEngineering and Foundry Company [54] APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE WIDTH OFMETALLIC SLABS 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 72/199, 72/234, 72/248, 164/76, 164/282 [51] Int. Cl ..B2lb15/00, B2lb 31/16 [50] Field of Search 72/226, 234, 248, 224; 164/76,282

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,927 7/1937 Schmid72/227 2,183,388 12/1939 Biggert, Jr. 72/234X 2,276,080 3/1942 McCaslin72/250 3,333,452 8/1967 Sendzimir 164/76X 3,336,778 8/1967 Follrath72/226X 3,358,358 12/1967 Jenks et al. 164/76 3,367,399 2/1968 Easton 1.164/282 3,400,566 9/1968 Gauer 72/199 3,479,852 11/1969 Conrad et a1.72/234X Primary ExaminerMilton S. Mehr Attorney-Henry C. WestinABSTRACT: Disclosed are two embodiments of apparatuses for performingwork on metallic slabs to substantially reduce their width. In the firstembodiment there is provided a pair of driven slab reducing rolls, eachrotatably supported in a housing. The rolls are adjustably positionedrelative to each other to reduce the slabs to a desired width.Concentrically carried on each roll are a pair of spaced anvil collars,one of which is adjustably positionable relative to the other toaccommodate slabs of different thicknesses. In the second embodimentthere is provided a pair of adjustably positionable slab squeezer heads,one of which is reciprocated relative to the other. Pairs of platensadjustably support and locate the slab in a direction normal to themovement of the reciprocating squeezer head.

Patented May 25, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. MORRIS 0. sro/vs BYHOWARD ,4. 7:44 507' ATTOR/VEK Patented May 25', 1971 3,580,032

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. MORR/S a. arc/v5 BY Hon/A a. 744507"ATTORA/EV.

Patented May 25,1971 I 3,580,032

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. MORRIS a. arc/v5 BY #0144440 bf 771L807 QZ M6. m

' ATTORNEY.

APPARATUS FOR REDUCING TI-IE WIDTH OF METALLIC SLABS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for making largeor substantial reductions in the width of metallic slabs to provideslabs having predetermined widths for further 1 processing by rollingmills to produce billets, plates, strip, and

the like. The invention is particularly useful in combination with acontinuous casting machine.

In present-day steel plants a continuous casting machine may be employedto produce from molten metal a casting of certain cross-sectionaldimensions and an undetermined length which is immediately cut intoslabs of a desired length. The slab, at this point, may be subject to aconventional rolling operation well known in the art per se for any oneof a number of purposes. The slabs are then transferred to some otherlocation where they are prepared for further processing in a rollingmill to produce plate, strip and like products. It is important to notethat the width of a cast slab is a function of the continuous castingmold size and, therefore, it is necessary to employ a particular sizemold to yield a desired slab width. Usually, a set of molds is madeavailable to produce the various slab widths consistent with a desireddimension of the slab to be further processed in the rolling mills. Thenumber of continuous casting molds making up a set-and there may beseveral mold sets-will vary according to various factors, but it iscontemplated that as many as 20 molds per set may be required to castslabs within given ranges of widths, e.g., 32 inches to 74 inches wide.

With reference now to the aforementioned rolling operation, immediatelyfollowing the slab being cut to length, it is known in the art to employedge rolling machines to do work on the width of the slab. However, whenlarge or substantial reductions in the slab width are taken, there is aninherent tendency of the resulting slab to have a bulging or thickenedportion adjacent each side where the reduction in width has taken place.The cross-sectional shape of such a slab has been described asdogbone-shapedor hourglass-shaped. One proposed solution to eliminatesuch an undesirably shaped slab is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,358,358and 3,367,l62. In both of these patents the proposed solution involvesthe use of tensioning the workpieces during rolling, which is notemployed according to the present invention. While placing theworkpieces under tension during the time when drastic reduction in widthis carried out may give acceptable results, the additional massive andexpensive equipment and substantial space it requires contributesmaterially to large capital expenses to employ this process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus formaking substantial reductions in the width of workpieces incident tofurther processing by a rolling mill.

It is another object of the present invention to substantially reducethe number of molds for a continuous casting machine that wouldotherwise be required to produce cast workpieces within a predeterminedrange of widths.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus opposedworkpiece engaging means generating therebetween a substantial force toreduce the width of a workpiece;

means for adjusting the relative distance between the opposed workpieceengaging means for producing workpieces having a desired width;

constraining means engaging opposed sides of the workpiece adjacent toand in a direction normal to the workpiece engaging means, theconstraining means being constructed and arranged to minimize localincreases in workpiece thickness during reduction of the widths of theworkpiece; and

means for adjusting the relative distance between the constrainingmeans.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These features and advantages, as well asothers, will be better understood when the following description is readin light of the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a continuous casting installation incorporatingthe features of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the slab edge rolling machinesillustrated in FIG. 1 incorporating the features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view of a slab squeezing machine whichrepresents 'a second embodiment of the present invention; and 7 FIG. 5is a sectional view taken along lines V-V of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a continuouscasting line 10 which includes a continuous casting machine 11constructed in a manner well-known in the art. One suitable form of sucha machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,641, issued to theassignee of the present invention It will be apparent to those skilledin the art that the casting machine and, particularly, the open-ended,fluid-cooled mold forming a part thereof will be constructed to producea solidified casting having predetermined cross-sectional dimensions,for example, 74 inches wide and 12 inches thick. Such a casting isgenerally indicated by the numeral 12, the cross section of which isindicated by the numeral 12a, at a point along conveyor table 13subsequent to being divided into the desired length by the shear 14.

Also incroporated in the conveyor table are two tandemly arranged slabwidth reducing machines 15 and 16, each constructed according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention and employed to materiallyreduce the width of the cast slabs a predetermined amount such as isshown at 17 and in cross section at 170. While two slab width reducingmachines are illustrated three or more machines may be arranged intandem to reduce the width of the slabs to such an extent wherebyfurther processing in a rolling mill will yield finished or semifinishedstrip, plate, or the like having the desired width.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the slab reducing machines are eachidentically constructed and include a housing frame made up ofspaced-apart parallel posts 18 and 19 horizontally supported by afoundation. Crossheads 21 and 22 interconnect the posts at their endsand serve to adjustably position roller assemblies 23 and 24,respectively, relative to each other. Each of the crossheads as shown inFIG. 3, includes a screw 25 having a threaded portion 25a received in anut 26 that is secured against rotation in the crosshead. The screw 25is caused to rotate by a worm wheel 27 in mesh with a worm 28 that is,in turn, connected to a motor, not shown. The roller assembly 24illustrated in FIG. 3 is made up of a bearing chock 31 engaged by oneend of the screw 25 and slidably supported between the posts 18 and 19.An arbor 32 is rotatably carried by the chock 31 and has a downwardlyextending end to which there is connected a universal spindle 33. Adrive 34 having bevel gears 35 and 36 transmits torque from the motor 37to the spindle 33 and, hence, to the roller assembly 24.

Mounted on the upper end of the arbor 32 is a composite roller havingtwo essential elements 38 and 39, each having threads 40 to permitadjustment of the latter relative to the former. The element 38 isformed with a slab edge engaging portion 41 and a slab constrainingcollar 42 which includes a hardened insert 420. The element 39 has aslab constraining collar 43 provided with a hardened insert 43a. Twopinion gears 44 in mesh with gear teeth formed on the element 38 arerotatably mounted in the element 39v To each of the shafts on which thepinions 44 are secured there are also secured worm wheels 45, each ofwhich is connected to separate pinions 46 driven by separate motors 47,as shown in FIG. 2. The motors 47 are supported by the element 39 andconnected to a source of power through electrical collectors 48.

Thus, it is apparent from the foregoing that operation of the motors 47causes relative rotation between the elements 38 and 39 of the rollerassemblies 23 and 24, thereby adjustably varying the distance separatingthe hardened inserts 42a and 43a to accommodate slabs of differentthicknesses therebetween. During operation of the apparatus shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the screws 25 are rotated sufficiently to prepositionthe roller assemblies 23 and 24 relative to each other whereby, whenslabs are passed therebetween, the desired final width may be obtained.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a secondembodiment of the present invention in the form of a slab squeezer 51 tobe incorporated in the roller table 13 (FIG. 1) in place of the slabreducing machines 15 and 16. As shown in FIG. 4, supported at the sidesof the table are stationary crossheads 52 and 53 that are securedtogether by upper and lower tension bars 54 and 55. A horizontallymovable bolster 56 is slidably supported by the bars 55 and arrangedbetween the roller table and the crosshead 52. A piston cylinderassembly 57 is supported by the crosshead and arranged to engage thebolster 56 for reciprocating it with a force sufficient to effectsubstantial reductions in the slab 59. Rigidly secured to both thebolster 56 and the crosshead 53 are nuts 61. Received in each nut is ascrew 62 adapted to be rotated by a worm wheel and worm assembly 63 forthe purpose of positioning squeezer heads 64 and 65 relative to eachother for accommodating slabs of different widths. The

squeezer heads 64 and 65, having wear plates 64a and 65a, respectively,secured thereto, extend the full length of the slab to be worked upon. Asupport frame 66 incorporated in the roller table 10 slidably positionsthe squeezer heads vertically for engaging a slab at a desiredelevation.

Essential to the successful operation of the slab squeezer is the use ofslab elevating devices, next to be explained, the function of which isto lift and hold a slab above the conveyor 10 at a predeterminedelevation, such that the application of the slab squeezing force will beapplied symmetrically to the slab at an elevation coinciding with thecenterline of the piston cylinder assembly 57. In this manner, largereductions in the width of the slab can be accomplished without localbulging.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, elongated aprons 71 are arranged between andextend in a direction parallel to the rollers 10a of the conveyor 10.Similarly arranged aprons 72 are space directly above the aprons 71.Aprons 71 are employed to raise the slab to the aforementionedpredetermined elevation whereupon the aprons 72 are lowered intoengagement with the top surface of the slab to rigidly constrain itduring the squeezing operation and thereby materially eliminate anytendency to produce local bulging of the slab. Each of the aprons 71 and72 is connected to a bell crank 73 and 74, respectively, which, in turn,are pivotally supported by the tension bars 54 and 55 and interconnectedby connecting rods 75 and 76. A piston cylinder assembly 77 isoperatively secured by its rod end to the bellcrank 73 to raise theaprons 71 in unison and a piston cylinder assembly 78, connected by therod end thereof also to the bellcrank 73, is operated to lower theaprons after the squeezing operation. The aprons 72 are lowered andraised in unison by a piston cylinder assembly 79 operatively connectedby the rod end thereof to one of the bellcranks 74.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we haveexplained the principle and operation of our invention and haveillustrated and described what we consider to represent the bestembodiment thereof.

We claim: 1. Apparatus for reducing the width of metallic workpieces,

such as slabs, comprising:

a pair of working means operating in the plane of the workpiece forengagement with the opposed edges of said workpiece;

drive means connected to each of said working means for generatingtherebetween a substantial force to reduce the width of the workpiece;

adjustment means connected to each of said working means for controllingthe relative distance therebetween to produce a workpiece having adesired width;

a pair of constraining means including metal reducing surfaces forengaging with the opposed sides of said workpiece in a plane normal tosaid plane of the workpiece for reducing local increases in workpiecethickness simultaneously with the reduction in width thereof; and

means for varying the relative distance between said pair ofconstraining means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment meanscomprises:

a support;

a nut carried by said support;

a screw received in said nut and engageable with said working means; and

drive means for causing relative rotation between said screw and saidnut to displace said screw and said working means relative to saidsupport.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of working meanscomprises:

a roller having a work surface constructed and arranged to contact anedge of the workpiece;

an arbor rigidly secured to said roller; and

a chock rotatably supporting said arbor, said drive means coupled tosaid arbor for transmitting torque to said roller.

for varying the relative distance therebetween upon operation of saiddrive means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of working meanscomprises: i

a pair of squeezer heads each having work surfaces for contact with theedge of a workpiece at a desired elevation;

support means for positioning said squeezer heads at said desiredelevation;

a crosshead for supporting each of said squeezer heads; and

tension rods interconnecting said crossheads for resisting the forcegenerated between said squeezer heads incident to reducing the thicknessof a workpiece.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said pair of constrainingmeans comprises:

a first and second plurality of platens having workpiece engagingsurfaces arranged in a direction normal to said work surfaces of saidsqueezer heads;

positioning means connected to said first and second plurality ofplatens for constraining a workpiece at said desired elevation.

8. A method of producing metallic slabs subsequently to be processed ina rolling mill to produce semifinished or finished products, such asstrip, plate, or the like, comprising the steps of:

continuously casting molten metal to form a solidified casting having awidth greater than the desired width of said products;

will result; and

simultaneously engaging the opposite sides of the slab for reducinglocal increases in the thickness of the slab due to the width reductionthereof.

1. Apparatus for reducing the width of metallic workpieces, such asslabs, comprising: a pair of working means operating in the plane of theworkpiece for engagement with the opposed edges of said workpiece; drivemeans connected to each of said working means for generatingtherebetween a substantial force to reduce the width of the workpiece;adjustment means connected to each of said working means for controllingthe relative distance therebetween to produce a workpiece having adesired width; a pair of constraining means including metal reducingsurfaces for engaging with the opposed sides of said workpiece in aplane normal to said plane of the workpiece for reducing local increasesin workpiece thickness simultaneously with the reduction in widththereof; and means for varying the relative distance between said pairof constraining means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidadjustment means comprises: a support; a nut carried by said support; ascrew received in said nut and engageable with said working means; anddrive means for causing relative rotation between said screw and saidnut to displace said screw and said working means relative to saidsupport.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of workingmeans comprises: a roller having a work surface constructed and arrangedto contact an edge of the workpiece; an arbor rigidly secured to saidroller; and a chock rotatably supporting said arbor, said drive meanscoupled to said arbor for transmitting torque to said roller. 4.Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pair of constraining meanscomprises: first and second collars supported by said arbor in aspaced-apart relationship; each of said collars having a workpieceengaging surface arranged in a direction normal to said work surface ofsaid roller.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means forvarying the relative distance comprises: drive means supported by saidfirst collar and operatively engaging and rotating said second collarrelative to said first collar; and mutually engaging threaded surfaceSformed on said collars for varying the relative distance therebetweenupon operation of said drive means.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein said pair of working means comprises: a pair of squeezer headseach having work surfaces for contact with the edge of a workpiece at adesired elevation; support means for positioning said squeezer heads atsaid desired elevation; a crosshead for supporting each of said squeezerheads; and tension rods interconnecting said crossheads for resistingthe force generated between said squeezer heads incident to reducing thethickness of a workpiece.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein saidpair of constraining means comprises: a first and second plurality ofplatens having workpiece engaging surfaces arranged in a directionnormal to said work surfaces of said squeezer heads; positioning meansconnected to said first and second plurality of platens for constraininga workpiece at said desired elevation.
 8. A method of producing metallicslabs subsequently to be processed in a rolling mill to producesemifinished or finished products, such as strip, plate, or the like,comprising the steps of: continuously casting molten metal to form asolidified casting having a width greater than the desired width of saidproducts; dividing the casting into slabs of a desired length suitablefor subsequent handling and processing; materially reducing the width ofthe slabs to a predetermined dimension whereby on subsequent processingproducts having desired thickness and width dimensions will result; andsimultaneously engaging the opposite sides of the slab for reducinglocal increases in the thickness of the slab due to the width reductionthereof.